As 2018 comes to a close, I want to share with you a small yet life-changing truth that will help you as you wrap up this year.
Psalm 77:1-3, I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and He gave ear unto me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.
Do you know what complaining does? IT OVERWHELMS YOUR SPIRIT, and when your spirit is overwhelmed, you cannot hear from God. According to Webster’s dictionary, the word, overwhelmed means overcome by force or numbers and completely overcome or overpowered by thought or feeling. This is exactly what the Psalmist experienced.
Many years ago, when our church was very young, I had a desire to give everyone on my staff a 50% pay raise. Their heart, diligence, and faith could not go unnoticed. So, I presented this desire to the Lord. Immediately, He gave me direction through His Word of how to give the raises I desired. Up until this point, there was no money for raises. We could barely meet the current payroll as it was. We had just moved into a building that needed countless repairs, and our expenses multiplied while our income remained the same. Out of obedience, I followed His instructions exactly. Within weeks, the money showed up, and we continually increased.
This testimony did not come about because of my desperation to convince God how bad my staff needed to see increase. Through this season, a complaint could not be found in my mouth, and as a result, I heard exactly what to do from God and how to properly apply His Word in this situation. It was one of the most supernatural financial breakthroughs I’ve ever experienced.
What do you need to see from God? What questions do you need answered? What wisdom do you need? God has every answer you need, He knows the direction you need to take, and His wisdom is unmatched. BUT YOU’LL NOT HEAR OR EXPERIENCE ANY OF IT WHEN YOUR SPIRIT IS OVERWHELMED.
I Corinthians 10:13, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Friend, there is a way of escape, an exit for every test, trial, or challenge you will ever face. Commune with the Holy Spirit and dig into the Word, which contains your answer.
Recently Phyllis was with a good friend who has grown children, and she was relaying to Phyllis how she gets so tired of hearing her children complain. As Phyllis was telling me this, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, “So do I.”
Nobody enjoys being around a complainer, and that is not the kind of fellowship God is looking for either. He loves all of His children, but He is turned toward that son and daughter who keep their eyes on Him and His Word, whose heart is overcome with gratitude and whose mouth is filled with thankfulness.
2 Chronicles 16:9, For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.
No matter the situation, keep complaints from coming out of your mouth, and rest in Him—His goodness, His love expressed through the gift of His only Son, Jesus, His faithfulness, His never-ending mercy. You’ll see His deliverance!
By the time you are reading this post, Phyllis and I will be in Ukraine, doing what God has enabled and called us to do…preaching the Gospel! It is an honor to share the glorious truth of Jesus to people throughout this world, and I want to thank you for partnering with us in this mission. Although the end of the year can be a challenging time to travel because of the busyness of the holidays, we sensed the Lord leading us to accept this particular invitation, and we look forward to sharing a good report with you.
Phyllis and I love you and are so thankful for you. We place great value upon our partnership with you. While we are in Ukraine, will you pray for us as you think of us?